“Us” is the Must-See Film of the Year

The talk about Academy Award winner Jordan Peele’s sophomore film has been deafening. After the wicked success of Get Out, could Peele make lightening strike twice in the same place? 

After wandering off alone at an amusement park as a young girl, Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) is uneasy about returning as an adult due to a traumatizing event that happened to her while she was missing. She and her family arrive back for a beach-front, relaxing vacation but Adelaide can’t help but feel haunted and followed by her past. Her worst fears come true when a family, eerily reminiscent to her own, descend upon their home with a pair of brass scissors, forcing them to fight for survival against a twisted version of themselves.

This film has it all – Suspense, humor, horror, brilliant cinematography, a bomb soundtrack and a thought-provoking storyline that will leave you breathless. Lupita gives one of the best performances of her career, playing both Adelaide and her terrifying double, Red. Her children are the real scene-stealers, giving incredibly believable performances for such young actors.

The key to understanding Us is to pay attention to EVERYTHING. Peele is known for digging into the details. Nothing you see or hear is by accident or coincidence. Similar to Get Out, there is a huge twist ending that you WISH you saw coming. I had an inkling of what was to come… But I never thought it could actually be true. Don’t think that what you are watching is just for enjoyment either. Peele loves to have multiple underlying themes that stick with you in the most shocking ways.

Are the doubles of Adelaide’s family a representation of the duality of human nature? Is Peele forcing Americans to take a hard look at themselves in the mirror? Or is he confronting the harsh truths about how the other half lives? It’s for you to decide… Not Us.

This film is deliciously smart, thrilling and the proof that Jordan Peele can do no wrong. See what everyone is talking about and then leave your thoughts and theories in the comments!

Us is now playing in theaters everywhere.

Score: ★★★★.5 / 5

Click HERE to listen to my podcast with Montez!

Be sure to stay up to date on all my latest reviews, find out fun movie facts and be the first to see new trailers by liking A Movie Lover’s Review on Facebook!